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UN civil aviation forum urges high-level meeting on preventing terrorism in skies

UN civil aviation forum urges high-level meeting on preventing terrorism in skies

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An international conference should be convened to address the terrorist threat in the skies, according to a resolution adopted by the Assembly of the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The resolution, adopted at the close of the Assembly's session in Montreal on Friday, called for holding the conference at the earliest possible date to develop measures for "preventing, combating and eradicating acts of terrorism involving civil aviation."

The text also calls for a full review of international civil aviation security conventions as well as the Standards and Recommended Practices and Procedures on aviation security as they apply to international flights.

The agency said that a meeting on aviation security it would organize later this year would give high priority to the applicability of the standards to domestic flights, and to the issue of locking cockpit doors.

"The tragic events of 11 September in the United States sharpened the resolve of Contracting States and other members of the international community present at the Assembly to ensure that air transport remains the safest and most efficient system of mass transportation ever created," said Assad Kotaite, President of the ICAO Council.

A record 1,130 participants from 169 Contracting States as well as observers from 32 international civil aviation organizations took part in the session, which also dealt with a range of other issues, including the ICAO budget, aircraft noise and incidents involving unruly passengers.

Created in 1944 to promote the safe and orderly development of global civil aviation, ICAO sets international standards and regulations necessary for the security, efficiency and regularity of air transport.